Loverboy - 2007

In 1980 LOVERBOY introduced themselves to the world with their self-titled debut album. They quickly became one of America's and MTV's most popular rock bands. From 1980 through 1987 LOVERBOY garnered four multi-Platinum albums and numerous international Gold albums. Their tours sold out arenas and stadiums nationwide. Their hit singles came one after another, and went on to become the anthems and party songs of an entire generation of rock concert going fans. LOVERBOY’s red leather pants, bandannas, and big rock sound defined the band’s trademark image and high-energy live show.

LOVERBOY, driven by the powerful vocals of Mike Reno, the relentless rock groove of lead guitarist Paul Dean, bassist Scott Smith, keyboardist Doug Johnson and drummer Matt Frenette, built its reputation on-stage, bringing the energy from their radio hits to coliseum rousing excitement.

LOVERBOY’s inception began in Calgary, Canada, when Mike Reno was introduced to Paul Dean at The Refinery Night Club. Dean was rehearsing a new band out back in a warehouse with a friend of Reno’s and Mike stopped by to jam. Dean heard him sing a couple of songs and that was that! Over the next few weeks, Dean and Reno began writing songs on guitar and drums. Doug Johnson who at the time was in another Canadian recording band began to hang out and jam with Dean and Reno. It was during one of those jam sessions with Reno on drums and Dean on bass that Turn Me Loose and LOVERBOY was born.

After being rejected by all the major U.S. record companies LOVERBOY signed with Columbia Records Canada. On March the 20th, 1980, LOVERBOY went into the studio with producer Bruce Fairbairn and engineer Bob Rock to record their self-titled debut album -- LOVERBOY. The summer of 1980 saw the record fly out of the stores setting record sales for a debut album -- over 700,000 records in Canada. Columbia U.S. had no choice but recognize that 700,000 people could not be wrong. The U.S. released the album in November 1980 and by April 1981, it had gone GOLD. LOVERBOY’s debut album went on to sell more than 2 million albums in the U.S. and 4 million worldwide.

Soon the band found themselves playing on mega tours with Journey, Bob Seger, Cheap Trick, ZZ Top, Kansas and Def Leppard, to name a few; they quickly became MTV darlings, being one of the first bands ever featured on the music channel. Between dates,( over 200 shows in 1981) the band wrote and recorded their second multi-platinum selling album. In 1981, GET LUCKY was released. It featured Working For The Weekend, When It’s Over, Take Me To The Top, Only The Lucky Ones, Jump, etc. GET LUCKY, and the band’s enormous touring success, led LOVERBOY in 1982, to an unprecedented six Juno Awards, Canada’s highest music award. This record still stands today.

In 1983, LOVERBOY released their third album KEEP IT UP, and launched another extensive eight-month world tour. With Hot Girls In Love and Queen Of The Broken Hearts burning up the airwaves they were soon recognized as one of the hardest working bands with a must-see live show.

LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT, the band’s fourth album it hit the airwaves, and landed them as one of the Top Five grossing touring acts, performing in over 100 cities across the U.S. and Canada. Their success earned them the title of becoming the first Canadian group to earn Columbia Records’ exclusive Crystal Glove Award, celebrating the sale of over five million albums outside their native country.

In 1986 LOVERBOY recorded Heaven In Your Eyes, for the soon to be blockbuster movie – TOP GUN. The single went Top 5 on Billboard’s chart. This was followed by the 1987 release of WILDSIDE -- LOVERBOY’s last studio album of the 1980’s.

After nine years of being ruled by LOVERBOY’s agenda of recording, touring, television appearances, videos, and hoards of interviews Paul, Mike, Matt, Doug and Scott decided to take a rest from the band and each other. The year was 1989.

In the late fall of 1992, LOVERBOY re-united to join Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and other stars to help raise money for cancer-stricken friend and fellow recording artist Brian ‘Too Loud’ McLeod. Unrehearsed, and three years since their last performance, the band hit the stage running. The music industry-dominated crowd loved what they saw and were reminded of why LOVERBOY was such a great live band. Mike, Matt, Doug, Scott and Paul felt they this was the most fun they had had in years. They wanted to do it again.
This time LOVERBOY decided to have some fun. They got into their own cars and drove around Western Canada doing selected dates. They were back doing what they loved -- performing live.

In 1993 the band decided to go back into the U.S. with some trepidation -- LOVERBOY did 64 concert dates. There was no reason to be nervous. The fans came back out and brought new ones with them. Sony/Legacy released a new greatest hits album entitled, LOVERBOY – CLASSICS. By now, the band had been touring every year since 1993 doing shows with old friends such as Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, Eddie Money. In 1998 they performed over 95 concerts in the U.S. alone. Old habits die-hard -- still relentlessly touring. A direct result of touring was that in the U.S. in 1998 LOVERBOY – CLASSICS went GOLD.

Buoyed by their new GOLD record, LOVERBOY management and Sony/Legacy started to exchange ideas on a live album. Having never released a live record it was decided it was time. Live recordings had to be relocated. They had to be carefully handled because most of the live concert recordings had being lying dormant for over 15 years. Members of the band worked with Al Quaglieri [Sony Producer] to refurbish the recordings. Finally, after two years of work, in the summer of 2001, Sony/Legacy released the first ever live greatest hit’s cd from
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LOVERBOY’s iintense touring years of 1982 – 1986 titled “ LIVE, LOUD & LOOSE”. Joining Sony/Legacy’s best-selling “Live from the Vaults” series that has unearthed live recordings by Janis Joplin, The Byrds, Cheap Trick, Carole King, Ted Nugent, Santana and others, LOVERBOY’s “LIVE, LOUD & LOOSE” is a collection of live recordings captured on tape from some of their most exciting concerts. Recorded for Westwood One’s syndicated radio series at concerts in Pittsburg, La Crosse and their hometown of Vancouver, the cd contains 14 previously unreleased live concert recordings featuring LOVERBOY’s mega hits which include: Working For The Weekend, Lucky Ones, Lady Of The 80’s, Take Me To The Top, Jump, This Could Be The Night, Dangerous, Lead A Double Life, When It’s Over, Queen Of The Broken Hearts, Lovin’ Every Minute Of It, Hot Girls In Love, Turn Me Loose and The Kid Is Hot Tonite.

In conjunction with the release of “LIVE LOUD & LOOSE” LOVERBOY toured the US and Canada in support of their latest collection. The tour was dedicated to the memory of their friend and late bassist Scott Smith, who was declared lost at sea on November 30th 2000. With the cd also dedicated to Smith,” LIVE LOUD & LOOSE” serves as a special memory for the band that has been together since 1980.

Did you Know?

Loverboy performed over 200 shows in 1981.

They were the first Canadian band to earn Columbia Records Crystal Glove Award, given for 5 million albums sold outside their home country.

The band earned 6 Juno Awards (Canada s highest music award) in 1982, a record that still stands today.

The band has been nominated for 11 Juno Awards.

The song Heaven In Your Eyes was recorded for the Top Gun soundtrack in 1986.

In the early 80 s, the band did tours with several 2007 MDJ bands, including Def Leppard, Cheap Trick, and Kansas.

In an interview with CAFKA-TV, Mike Reno said a new album is finished and could be released this year.

Upon reuniting in 1993, the band did a Western Canada tour with the band traveling in their own cars.

Loverboy performed at Northern Lights Casino in January at the Loonacy Party.

Mike Reno performed Almost Paradise with Heart s Ann Wilson for the movie Footloose in 1984.

Reno started playing drums at age 12 and originally auditioned for Loverboy as a drummer.

Keyboardist Doug Johnson is also a classical music composer, with several compositions done for TV shows and musicals.